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Changing the Subject

4/2/2017Alan Adams John 4:18-42

In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus went from well-water, to living water, to asking her about her husband; yet, He did not change the subject. She, though, did try to change the subject: first, about her personal life, and second, shifting from water to worship. The Lord still kept the subject on target.

#92 Project Ecclesiastes: Frustrating Funeral

Love and Likewise

3/26/2017Alan Adams Luke 6

In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus moves from the topics of "blessedness," and "wretchedness," to the topic of human interaction; particularly as regards how Christians generally ought to interact with other people. He begins the discourse with the word, "love, " and ends it with "likewise."

Will He Really Find Faith?

3/26/2017Alan Adams Luke 18

Out of the backdrop of "last things," or "how things are all going to come out" things, Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow. It's design was to teach Christians that in our life and prayers, we must have the faith to keep coming, and coming, and coming. He ends by asking a circumspect question: When I come will I find faith [your persevering faith] on the earth?

Commanded Love

3/5/2017Alan Adams 1 John 3:15-17

With subjective relativism ruling the thinking of modern man, it will undoubtedly come as a surprise that the Holy Spirit commands people to love; that is, He commands who to love, what to love, and what not to love.

Table Manners

2/19/2017Alan Adams 1 Corinthians 10-16

Israel, Paul warned, failed because of idolatry. He warns Christians, "Flee idolatry." In that connection he uses "table" as a metaphor for Christian fellowship. Using Paul's metaphor, it is useful in understanding his teaching on "table manners"; how the "body," the church, is to gather at the table. It relates to how we treat one another.

#81 Project Ecclesiastes: Those Who See the Sun

My Greatest Teacher

2/12/2017Alan Adams John 3

The greatness of the often touted "greatest passage" in the Bible, John 3:16, cannot be well perceived apart from consideration of the greatest pupil, the greatest pedagog, and that which makes up the greatest proclamation.

Naming Things

Evident Exception

1/22/2017Alan Adams 1 Corinthians 15:27

One finds several universal characterizations in the Bible; "all things" being one of them. The reader must take care to identify the "universe of discourse" in such phrases. An example is Paul's affirming that "all things" had been subjected to Christ. He continues to say that a certain "exception" was "evident." The same is true when we read of "all things" being possible with God.

God Is Good

1/22/2017Alan Adams Psalm 136

A man once called Jesus "good"; to which he responded with a question, "Why do you call me good?" Inspiration often affirms that "God is good." What does that mean? How does it pertain to our need to be "good."

Quenching the Lamp of Israel

1/15/2017Alan Adams 2 Samuel 21

In one of the seemingly interminable wars between Israel and the Philistines, David "grew faint," and was confronted by a massive combatant, Ishbi-Benob who though he could "kill" David; perhaps payback for David's killing Goliath. Abishai stepped in a killed the giant; and told David the old warrior that must no longer go to battle "lest you quench the lamp of Israel."

With What Shall I Make Atonement?

1/15/2017Alan Adams 2 Samuel 21

God was punishing the nation; David asked why. God said it was because Saul had slaughtered the Gibeonites, thus breaking and ancient oath with them. David asked the Gibeonites, "With what shall I make atonement?" They told David to hand over seven of Saul's family, which they would hang. That's what happened. Understanding this story will help on understand the necessity of the death of Christ.